Alyssa sat out in the gazebo, enjoying the late fall day with her father George. The table that was made of wrought iron that sat in the sheltered alcove could normally seat eight people, but not today. One small area of the table held a tea tray, with biscuits and hot tea for the two to share while they chatted. The rest of the large table was covered in fabric swatches, flowers, ribbons bows, glasses, books and other items; the two of them had finally found the time to sit and discuss the upcoming bonding ceremony..
Precisely as Jerrod had feared, George was planning on an extravagant affair, and from what Alyssa could see he was planning on inviting half the wizarding world. She had managed to get him to promise to keep the invitations to very close friends and to family only, to minimize the size of the crowd at the bonding and now she had another challenge to face. George set his tea aside and reached into the stack of fabrics. "You know, I really like this one… I'd love to see it on Jerrod." He said.
"Papa George, you should know that daddy won't wear that color." Alyssa said with a giggle. "It's too bright. He wouldn't wear it even if I used my powers to try to force him."
"Too bright?" he eyed the swatch curiously, grinning faintly. "It's just blue. Sky blue. I like this color." George said, waving it at her. "And I think he'd look fabulous in it."
"We both know he won't wear it. Please, papa, don't make him…? Daddy wants to be happy about the bonding but he's worried it's going to turn into a circus. And if you make him wear that he'll feel like he's dressed like a clown." She explained. "Please, Papa George…?"
"All right, all right, no bright colors and no pastels." George tossed the sample aside, giving in without much of a battle. He'd get Jerrod pajamas in that color and make sure he wore them at least once or twice.
"Thank you Papa George." She smiled sweetly.
He chuckled softly. "You win that round. So tell me, what colors can I consider to make the gown that is going to be worn by our beautiful little girl, hmm?" He asked.
"I think I'm getting tired of pink." She said, eyeing the other samples on the table. "I'm almost all grown up now; can I wear something really pretty?"
"You're only ten years old, Alyssa. Using the words grown-up are a bit too much for you just yet."
"I'm a mature ten years old." She returned with a smirk. "I'll wear anything but pink, I've been wearing that since I was a baby. Maybe … ooh! I know what color!" she began rummaging through the samples and produced a scrap of silver silk. "This. This is what I want, papa. A silver dress and I think Daddy needs to be dressed in silver-gray."
"Why in Merlin's name would I want to put Jerrod in gray?" George repeated, lifting an eyebrow. "A little somber for a bonding ceremony, isn't it?"
Alyssa giggled softly. "Can you really imagine daddy in something bright?"
George grinned at her. "To tell you the truth I imagine it all the time. All he ever wears is dark colors; I'd love to see him in something clean and bright for a change."
"And he'd be completely miserable. And he would be furious at you and not even talk to you for months and months…"
"Or longer." He agreed with a smirk. "All right, a silver-gray gray for your father and a beautiful silver dress for our girl. Goo d thing I know a good seamstress; I want the both of you to look stunning. How do you want your hair done? You'll be wearing a stunning dress, do you want bows or do you want your hair put up like a big girl?" He asked.
"I'd rather have it up like a lady." She smiled. "And daddy should wear his hair in a braid."
"Agreed, I like his long hair. I don't want him to cut it but don't tell him that."
She giggled. "I know. He'd just cut it if he knew you wanted him to keep it long."
"Obstinate man." He chuckled.
"Gotta love him." She smiled, picking up a biscuit delicately and nibbling on it. "Oh, papa George? Can I please carry the bonding rings?"
"You? Its tradition really for a boy to carry the ring…" George said thoughtfully.
"Well what's the girl supposed to do?"
"Throw flower petals I think."
She eyed him. "Throw flower petals? That's it?"
"Well, that and look pretty. Carrying the ring isn't such a great feat of strength either, little love." George chuckled. "Only I would have a daughter who wants to be both the ringbearer and the flower girl." he commented wryly.
"I don't have to be the flower girl too, Papa. That's just silly. Why don't we have Rose come and be the flower girl, she's your niece and going to be my cousin and she'd love to get all frilly and throw flowers." she answered. "She can do that and then both of us can be in the wedding."
"That's a good idea, really." George smiled. "I'll tell Ron about it straight away."
Alyssa stood up and began searching through the pile of fabric swatches. "I know what you should wear, too, Papa. It'll look lovely beside the silver grey that daddy will be wearing…" She produced a swatch of heavy silken fabric, a soft weave of black that shimmered with silver tones. "You should have your robes made out of this fabric."
"Black for me?" he looked doubtful. "Honestly love, I was thinking more of this red…" he picked up another swatch.
"No, it won't look right with your red hair." She plucked the red swatch from his fingers and held it up to her own hair, the same tone as George's. "See? It makes me look all pale and my hair kind of washed out. You want something that will make you look good. Black is better for you; that or deep blue."
"You know, I can't help but notice you're picking out colors that Jerrod usually wears." George smirked.
Alyssa shrugged and giggled. "They might be the same colors but it's not going to be the same, papa. Daddy wears plain functional robes of those colors. You're going to wear dress robes, not work robes."
"True." George picked up the black fabric, studying it a moment before he gave a sharp nod. "All right, black it is then. That way my color will show the world what a handsome man he is even more."
She leaned forward with her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands, gazing at George. "You really do love him, don't you papa?"
He smiled tenderly at the young girl. "I know it seems odd, but something about him just caught me when I met him. Didn't get on with him in school, but then Slytherins weren't associating with Gryffindors anyway…"
"Like Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco."
"Exactly. I always knew you were an intelligent girl." He grinned at her and reached to ruffle her hair; she was too quick for him and shied back out of his reach. He chuckled and reached for his drink instead. "I didn't see him after I left Hogwarts at all, though I did think about him now and then. I know your dad doesn't think he's handsome, but I sure do. Something about his eyes, I think… I never laid eyes on him again until the year you came into my life."
"You weren't too friendly then, either. All you two did was argue and fuss." She said, rolling er eyes dramatically.
He gazed at her thoughtfully. "You were only three; you really remember all of that?"
She couldn't help but smile. "Oh come on, papa. Of course I remember. You know that daddy was always the most important thing in my life. He wasn't supposed to but he took care of me. And he gave me a toy to make me think of him and know he always would love me. No one else had a toy like my 'Thulu, so I knew he was special and I was too."
"I was worried about how the world would see you, with all your powers. You still have some work to do on keeping them under control…"
"I can keep them under control. Just sometimes I want to use them when I shouldn't." she sighed. "Its hard to know when is the right time and when is not. They had taught me that there is no wrong time but there are…"
"And the fact that you are thinking about it and trying to figure that out is brilliant, Liss." George smiled fondly. "And yes, I do love your daddy. Very much, in fact."
She smiled back at him. "And I know daddy loves you, even if he won't say it."
"He will someday; he just has a lot of trouble expressing his emotions toward me."
She giggled. "I know. He has the same problem with everyone, even me." She commented, then glanced at the big pile again. "Have you chosen the bonding rings?"
"Yeah." Gorge nodded, sitting back in his chair with a biscuit in hand. "And those are one thing I will not be swayed on."
"But what are they?"
"No, Alyssa. I chose those a long time ago. Jerrod's isn't gaudy, trust me. I know he has to work and his ring needs to be of a certain metal so as to not mess up his potions. I've chosen something that is appropriate."
"But can't I see them?"
"Of course you can, little one. At the bonding you'll see them like everyone else."
"But papa, daddy asked me to make sure…"
"No, Alyssa." He answered firmly. "I promise you, his ring is all right. He's going to find so many things to complain about with the ceremony, I don't intend for him to find any reason to dislike his ring. I want him to wear it."
She looked at him curiously. "But I just want to see them…"
He shook his head. "Not happening. Come on, focus on the bonding ceremony. What else do we need? We got the flowers, catering for the party afterward which your daddy will try to avoid like dragon pox but I intend to drag him down at least for an hour or so. We've chosen the fabrics for you and Rose – she'll have a silver dress as well – and fabrics for Jerrod and me as well. The ceremony will be held here, Lucius has offered up the ballroom and that's more than big enough. You've made it very clear that I can't invite half the ministry, just family and very close friends. What else is there to do?"
"Um… someone to perform the bonding ceremony?" she suggested.
"Any member of the ministry can do it, Lucius can too. Why not him?" George asked.
"Lord Father Malfoy? I don't think daddy would want that at all." Alyssa answered, sipping her tea. "I guess I have to leave that part to you, then."
"I'll get someone appropriate." He smiled. "That's it, then. You can go tell Jerrod I won't humiliate him."
"He doesn't think that…"
"Oh, doesn't he?" George chuckled. "I might be a little unfocused at times, but I know why he sent you to help me pick all this out. It's all right; I know there's areas he still doesn't trust me about, it will just take time." He assured his daughter.